Algerian Military Testing An A330 MRTT at Boufarik
(Source: Le Matin DZ; published May 13, 2013)
(Published in French; unofficial translation by defense-aerospace.com)
Just weeks after the C17 evaluation that took place in Boufarik and the air force test center at Tamanrasset, an Airbus A330 MRTT tanker landed last week at the main air transport base in Boufarik.
According to the “secret difa3” blog, the Algerian Air Force is in the process of finalizing a contract to acquire three A330 aircraft to reinforce its tanker and long-range transport fleet. Besides their ability to refuel in-flight fighter and attack aircraft, the A330 MRTT will also support the C17 transports which are currently being acquired.
It should be noted that the central refueling boom was not fitted to the aircraft that landed at Boufarik this afternoon. Only two refueling pods were mounted on its wingtips. The integration of the EADS tanker will be relatively easier because Algerian air force crews are already familiar with the aircraft, as the A330 MRTT tanker is similar to the A340 aircraft already in the air force’s VIP flight.
The A330 MRTT is a military variant of the A330-200 commercial aircraft. It can carry up to 270 troops, or 8 standard pallets, and 65 tonnes of fuel. It can refuel six heavy fighters on a 4,000-km flight.
With the acquisition of the C-17 Globemaster III and the A330 MRTT, the Algerian Air Force is moving into high gear for the renewal of its transport fleet, and this opens the door to speculation about the future replacement of its 16 C-130 Hercules transports, which are currently undergoing a thorough modernization in the United States.
EDITOR’S NOTE: In an earlier post, the same blog reported that a Boeing C-17 belonging to the US Air Force’s 446th Military Airlift Wing, based at McChord AFB, Washington state, flew to Algeria in April for a series of demonstrations, which included in-flight evaluations by Algerian pilots.
The Algerian air force plans to shortly order six to eight C-17s, the report said without identifying its sources.)
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